Some of the “minor” details left out of this summer’s illegal immigration protests
on August 31st, 2006 at 1:15 pmLiving here in California, I have a front-row seat to the whole issue of illegal immigration and how it can affect a community. So it is hard for me to just simply “move on” and away from this issue to talk about more pressing issues like the JonBenet Ramsey case — whatever!
Here is an article I came across recently that paints quite a different picture of the economic structure in South America than what many in the pro-ILLEGAL immigration movement have been preaching.
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(This article contains MANY links)
Mexico’s Rich Don’t Like To Pay Taxes – They Think You Should – Brenda Walker
written in 2003
“Poor Mexico, so far from God, so close to the United States” is an early example of the now-familiar annoying whine, first voiced by Mexican President Porfirio Diaz .
Pathetic loser, mooch, social basket case, criminal narco-state: these are Americans’ mental pictures of Mexico.
But more than any other, the image is one of staggering poverty. Anyone who has been to a Mexican border town is immediately overwhelmed by the Third World – the oppressive dirt, decay, too many underfed children.
However, the truth is that Mexico is a very wealthy country. It is blessed with abundant natural resources and a fortunate location. Mexico is the richest nation in Latin America when measured by GDP, and by a wide margin: in 2001, Mexico’s GDP was the highest in Latin America, a substantial 22.5 percent more than runner-up Brazil. When GDP per capita is the gauge, Mexico is second only behind Argentina.
Half of all Latin American billionaires, 11 out of 22, are Mexicans.
Mexico is the quintessential banana republicâ€â€a corrupt oligarchy of arrogant rich, a tiny middle class and millions of poor people, around half of whom live in poverty.
But Mexico is not poor overall. It has the resources to improve itself.
Economist… more
Related: “Secret Meeting of Latin America Billionaires” – Forbes.com
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